Jenna Cocullo, Local Journalism Initiative
Residents hoping to swim at municipal pools and make use of day camps will have to wait a little while longer, as Chatham-Kent’s medical officer of health decided to keep them closed during Stage 3 of reopening. However, parents can now let their kids cool off with splash pads.
On Monday, Premier Doug Ford announced the municipality as one of the regions given the green light to move ahead in the next phase of reopening.
Dr. David Colby has decided to keep municipal pools and day camps shut because they “have the potential for adults and children to be at all in a situation where they cannot physically distance,” according to CK Public Health.
During Stage 2 of reopening, Colby decided to override the province’s decision to allow splash pads to open, saying he would do so once playgrounds were also given the go-ahead.
With outdoor recreational facilities allowed to reopen throughout the province as part of Stage 3, Colby has lifted his splash pad orders.
CK Public Health said the community’s efforts to respect physical distancing and other COVID-19 measures, is what allowed Chatham-Kent to move into Stage 3 of “Reopening Ontario”.
“Moving into Stage 3, we must remember that COVID-19 is still present in Chatham-Kent. Continue to maintain a physical distance of at least two metres (six feet) from all persons outside your household or social circle of ten,” Colby said.
Colby is permitting that the following operations in Chatham-Kent may resume service as early as Friday, July 17 at 12:01 a.m. with public health measures in place:
- Indoor facilities for sports and recreational fitness activities, including gymnasia, yoga and dance studios and other fitness facilities;
- Training for indoor team sports and individual high-contact sports;
- Seated dining indoors at restaurants and bars (excluding buffets);
- Personal services for the face (facials, facial piercings, eyebrow waxing, eyelash extensions);
- Performing arts shows and cinemas with reduced capacity for physical distancing;
- Casinos (slots and electronic gaming only, no table games) and charitable gaming halls and events, including horse racing;
- Remaining workplaces may open, with remote work wherever possible.
Municipal services and businesses may choose not to reopen at their discretion and are encouraged to only reopen if they have proper and responsible health and safety measures in place.
The limits for social gatherings have increased to 50 people indoors and 100 individuals outdoors, while respecting physical distancing measures.
Social circles (the amount of people you can have close contact with) remain at a maximum of 10 people.
Residents are reminded to maintain 2 metres of physical distancing with people outside their social circles, wash their hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer with 70% alcohol as frequently as possible, and to stay home if they’re not feeling well.
Masks may be worn in indoor public spaces, but are not a substitute for physical distancing.
READ MORE: Colby debating making masks mandatory for public transit
